Early time dynamics and constraints on medium evolution

TL;DR

This paper reviews the early-time dynamics of the quark-gluon plasma in heavy-ion collisions, emphasizing weak-coupling models and how initial stages influence experimental probes like photons and jets.

Contribution

It provides an overview of current understanding of pre-equilibrium QGP dynamics and discusses recent studies on how initial conditions affect hard probes.

Findings

Initial stages impact photon and dilepton signals.

Pre-equilibrium dynamics influence jet quenching.

Recent developments enhance experimental signatures of early QGP.

Abstract

In relativistic heavy-ion collisions, a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is created whose pre-equilibrium evolution includes a rich variety of exciting phenomena of Quantum Chromodynamics. In these Proceedings, we provide a short overview of our current understanding of the pre-equilibrium dynamics of the QGP from a weak-coupling perspective and highlight recent developments. Focusing on new studies, we then discuss how initial stages of the QGP medium may impact hard probes including direct photons, dileptons, jets, and heavy quarks. This introduces promising opportunities to obtain experimental signatures of the pre-equilibrium QGP.